G.F. 316
SECRET 高度機密
-4-
Page 4 of 5 pages
From Macau
18.
There has been a sharp increase in the number of arrests of illegal immigrants from Macau, The total for July was 623 of whom 616 had previously crossed legally or illegally into Macau from China. This rise is undoubtedly the result of the measures taken on both sides of the Hong Kong - Chinese border, which have prompted would be immigrants to seek a more promising route. Illegal immigration via Macau is characterised by the operations of highly organised, commercial syndicates. Illegal immigrants from Macau are returned to Macau after arrest, with the exception of those who have passed through there without coming to the notice of the Macanese authorities. These are now returned to China along with other illegal immigrants who have been arrested entering Hong Kong directly from China.
From Vietnam
19. For the first time for four months, the monthly total of arrivals has fallen, and fallen significantly: from 19651 in June to 8797 in July. This is largely because the Vietnamese Government has, for various reasons, taken some steps to halt, or at least reduce, the outflow, However, a number of small boats arriving towards the end of the month claimed to have left even after the Geneva Conference had begun on 20 July. These departures probably took place without the knowledge of the Vietnamese authorities, other perhaps than low level officials whose acquiescence had been bought.
20.
A disturbing development has been the arrival of 1433 refugees who originally crossed from Vietnam into China, where they were settled. Subsequently they decided to move on and made their way by river or along the coast to Hong Kong. On arrival they at first claimed to have come direct from Vietnam but under persistent questioning admitted to a period of settlement in China. Representations were made to the Chinese authorities, who have agreed in principle to take back a first group of 234 since there was clear evidence that they had been settled in China, It may be more difficult to establish this fact with some of the later
groups.
LIC Hong Kong 9 August, 1979
SECRET SÆ#2